Electric riveting.



C. H. KiCKLiGHTEH.-

ELECTRIC RIVETING.

APPLICATION man DEC. x5, 191s.

1,236,090. Pamed Aug. 3f, mi?.

NCRRIS PETERS INC L'Nc WA Noma D C Be4 it known that I, CHARLES 'CARLESH. KICKLIGHTER, or Macon, suoneria.

ELECTRIC. arvnrnre.

Specication o Letters Patent.

APatented Ang. 1917.

Application filed, December 15, 1916. Serial No. 137,193.

To all whom t may concern: l

H. Kron- LIGHTER, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at Macon, in the county of Bibb and State of Georgia, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Electric Riveting, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to ,an apparatus and method for riveting byelectric means and its object is to provide an apparatus and method forheading rivets in cylinder seams by the use of polyphase currents.

Brieiy stated, the apparatus consists of a set of transformers disposedabout the position of the work and adapted to apply polyphase heatingcurrents to a plurality of rivet blanks inserted in holes through thecircular seam around the circumference thereof. Means are also providedfor collecting the'currents from the inside ends of the rivet blanks andreuniting them on a member or members of neutral potential within thecylinder. The method consists of passing the polyphase heating currentsradially through a plurality of uniting rivet lanks to a neutral pointwithin and of simultaneously subjecting these rivet blanks to mechanicalpressure.

Figure l is. a sketch illustrating a threephase electric rivetingmachine with the secondaries 'delta-connected and adapted to head therivets in a circular seam of a metal cylinder at a plurality of pointsdis'- posed around said seam.

Fig. 2 is a diagram or nections in Fig. 1. y

Fig. 1 illustrates a riveting apparatus, in which'a set of heading dies1 1, 2--2a and 3 3il are disposed opposite to a series of engagingterminals 4-4-lrwhich in this case also consist of a set of headingdies. Terminals 4 -4- t are adapted to be pressed outradially againstthe ends of the electrical con- .rivet blanks projecting from the insideof a circular seam. These engaging terminals 1 -4 4 may befforcedoutward by a conical sleeve 5 sliding 0n a shaft 6 or by other wellknown mechanical means. The heading dies 1, 1", 2. 2*,.3 and 3a aresupported by a guiding yoke forming a complete circumferf ence aroundthework and which is divided into three segments 7 8 and 9, properlyinsulated from one another.

The heading dies 1 1", 2 2a and 3 3l are adapted to be forced radiallyinward against the ends of rivet blanks p'rolecting from the outside ofa circular seam by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure in cylinders 10 10"*,11-11a, 12-122 or by other means. The conductors 13, 14 and 15 serve toconneet the heading dies to the secondaries 16, 17 and 18 of a set ofthree-phase transformers. The primaries 19, 2O and 21 of thesetransformers, woimd about cores 22, 23 and 24:, are connected to thesource of supply in one of the usual methods of connection.

The transformers are arranged so as to surround the work and thesecondary'conductors 13 14-15 with the transformer' secondaries '16 1713 form an unbroken yoke or circumference about the work. The loops inconductors' 13 14--15 are for the purpose of giving greater flexibilityto permit the free motion of the heading dies.

For the sake of simplicity it is not attempted to show the connection ofthe primaries`,to the three-phase supply. This may be anyone of the'ordinary methods of connections well known in the art, as the delta orstar connection.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the electrical connections of 'the apparatus(l Fig. l. The primaries 19 20 21 are delta-connected and are connectedby leads 25 26 27 and switch 23 to the source of'three-phase supply. Theconnection of the heading dies 1 1?, 2 2ZL and 3 3a to the secondaries16 17 18 by conductors 13 141- 15 is plainly illustrated in thisdiagram. The in-- terconnection of the contact or heading terminals Jl-4 4 is also plainly. illustrated.

In Fig. 1, for the sake of simplicity, only smallA sections of thecircular seam are shown..V Between the heading dies 1 2-3 and thecorresponding terminals 4 L1 1, rivet blanks 'are illustrated as passingthrough holes in the two plates at a circular seam. After the headingoperation by dies 1 2 3, the dies are raised out of contact with theirrivets and dies 1%- a 3a may be similarly broughtdown against otherrivets, three-phase heating currents may be passed through these rivetsand heads formed thereon, etc.

For the sake of clearness the heading dies are shown in section. In theillustration the terminals l /1 i are supposed-to be heading dies, inwhich case the machine is adapted to head both ends ofthe blanksimultaneously." It is apparent howeverthat the terminals 4 4- 4 may besimply conical engaging terminals, for contacting with heads valreadyformed on one end of the rivet blanks. Inthis latter case only the diesconnected to the transformer secondaries perform the heading function.

The operation is apparent. The circular Seam of` a cylinder, with rivetblanks passed 4r-4 4 radially outward against the inwardly projectingends of the rivet blanks. Hydraulic or pneumatic pressure is admittedinto cylinders 10-11-12 and the heading dies 1-'-2-3 are thrust radiallyinward against the outwardly projecting ends of the rivet blanks. Thetransformer primaries are excited and heavy heating secondary currents,in three-phase relation, flow from the secondaries 16-7-17-18, throughthe heading dies 1-2-3 and through the rivets to the terminals @i4-iwhere they are united. The heat, due to the passing cui"- rents, softensthe rivet blanks and the niechanical pressure forces the metal downwardat either end, thus forming heads on the rivets.

'The primary current being now interrupted 4and the pressure on theheading dies 1-2--3 relieved, pressure is next admitted to cylinders10a-l1a'-12a, thus forcing heading dies 1a--2f-3l radially inwardagainst the ends of three other rivets, not shown, in the same manner asabove described.

The primaries 19-20-21 being again excited, heating polyphase currentsiiow from Vsecondaries 16-17-18 and three more rivets are headed, and soon.

What 1 claim is: x

1. The method of fastening two pieces of metal together along a circularseam, consisting in placing uniting members through holes in said piecesof metal, in, applying mechanical pressure upon the pro]ecting ends of aplurality of the uniting members disposed about the circumference of theseam, and in conducting through these unit-l` ing members a plurality ofcurrents in threephase relation to a point of common union within thecircular seam.

2.' The method of forming a riveted circular seam in a cylinder by theuse of heading dies` consisting in bringing the dies in contact with theprojecting ends of uniting rivet blanks distributed along the seam, inapplying mechanical pressure and in conducting through the rivet blanksa plurality of heating currents in three-phase relation to a point ofcon'unon union within the cylinder.

3. The methodof heading a plurality of rivet blanks inserted in holesthrough metal sheets around the circumference of a circular seam,consisting in applying mechanical in the circular seam.

4. The method of riveting a circular seam in a sheet metal cylinder,consisting in applying a plurality of heating currents in three-phaserelation and mechanical pressure to the ends of rivet blanks prdjectingfrom holes through said seam and in conducting said currents through therivets and uniting these currents ata point of neutral potential.

5. The method of fastening twovpieces of metal together along acircular` seam consisting in applying mechanical pressure and heatingcurrents in three-phase relation to the projecting ends of uniting rivetblanks', disposed about the whole circumference, in conducting thesecurrents ythrough the rivet close proximity to said cylinder, of aplurality of heading dies connected to the transformer secondaries andof al plurality of inter-connected engaging terminals disposed oppositeto said dies.

7. In an electric metalworking apparatus for riveting a circular seamthe combination of a set of transformers three-phase connected and sodisposed as to surround and be in close proximity to said circular seam,of a plurality of heading dies connected to the secondaries of thetransformers and adapted to Contact with the protruding ends of rivetVblanks inserted in holes disposed in and along said seam, and'of aplurality of engaging terminals inter-connected, disposed opposite t0aforesaid heading dies and adaptedto contact with the inside ends ofsaid rivet blanks.

8. In an electric apparatus for riveting blanks to a point of neutralpotential, in.

seams in a metal cylinder, the combination CIT said heading dies andadapted to engage with the inner ends of saidA insert rivet blanks.

9. In an apparatus for riveting seams in a metal cylinder, thecombination of a plurality of interconnected polyphase transformersecondaries so disposed as to beabout and in close proximity to saidcylinder, of means for applying polyphase currents -in different phaserelations from the transformer secondaries to the projecting ends ofinserted rivet blanks and of means for conducting said currents fromvthe opposite ends of the rivet blanks to a point of com- 'mon union.

10. An electric riveting apparatus, consisting of a circular yoke orconductor adapted to surround the Work, of heading dies connected tosaid yoke at various points disposed along the circumference thereof, ofmeans forvmaintaining three equal portions of the yoke at electricpotentials having a three-phase relation and of another set of engagingterminals, electrically connected, disposed opposite to the said headingdies and adapted to be surrounded by thework.

ln testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence oftwo subscribing Witnesses, at Macon, in the county of Bibb and State ofGeorgia, this 18th day 30 of December, 1916.

CHARLES H. KICKLIGHTER.

Witnesses:

B. F. HALE, R. F. FINCHER.

Copies of this patent niay be obtainef for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Paten- Washington, D. G.

